Copper is Crucial in Climate Change Combat

13 Feb 2017

Climate change has been a widely-discussed topic across fields of study for decades now, as humanity tries to navigate an ever-changing global environment. The world has seen an increased effort in environmentally friendly campaigns, such as the global focus on a circular economy, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and a call for organizations and corporations to run more sustainably and efficiently. In this endeavor, copper has been found to be essential in the fight against climate change.

Copper is 100% recyclable and can be used and reused without losing its properties or effectiveness. Each year, approximately 18 trillion pounds of copper is recycled. Doing so saves about 100 MWh of energy and 80 trillion pounds of CO2 from being used, when compared with producing new copper. The European copper industry has developed new strategies that trigger and support substantial carbon reductions in the downstream industrial, residential and service sectors. By 2020, they hope their efforts will help save 260 trillion pounds of CO2 per year.

Copper also possesses excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, allowing products and systems that utilize copper to run more efficiently. Its natural properties make it an important piece in the protection and sustainability of Earth. As organizations seek to run more efficiently both in cost and in energy consumption, copper is the difference maker in getting those organizations and tomorrow’s products to run leaner. Hopefully, we can all do our part to work toward a greener future for our planet.